Funding
The journey from application to support
Interested in project funding? Then you’ve come to the right place. On this page, you can find out whether your organisation and your project are eligible for funding and how the funding process works.
We know that the application process can be time-consuming. That’s why we like to provide all the relevant information so you can assess whether the effort is worth it for you.
The application process also entails additional work for us. This isn’t a problem for us, but we’d appreciate it if you could read through this page first before coming to us with any questions.
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Eligible organisations
The One Foundation solely supports organisations with legal capacity that
- are recognised by the Tax Office as charitable or benevolent,
- hold a valid exemption notice,
- and are authorised to issue donation receipts.
In addition, the organisations must be based in Germany.
According to our statutes, the One Foundation can provide funding in the fields of science and research, education, lifelong learning and vocational training.
We only work with organisations that uphold a discrimination-aware, inclusive and respectful approach and that involve the target group in project development and implementation wherever possible. Neo-colonial or racist attitudes do not align with the One Foundation’s values. Equality, diversity and inclusion should be taken into account in the planning and implementation of the funded projects and form a central part of the foundation’s self-image.
Funding purpose and content
The One Foundation is a charitable foundation that promotes social and societal equal opportunities. The aim of the funding is to enable people to access high-quality education and thus lay the groundwork for defining their own future.
The projects funded by the One Foundation are primarily targeted at young people who are economically and socially disadvantaged. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of those in need of protection as well as on education and vocational training. The foundation focuses on the areas of inclusion, democracy promotion and the prevention of early school leaving.
The One Foundation is open to different project approaches as long as they make a sustainable contribution to improving the education and participation opportunities of the people being supported and to opening up new perspectives. The projects’ impact logic should be coherent and capable of demonstrating how the desired changes are to be achieved.
Examples of previously funded formats include holistic project approaches such as mentoring, scholarships, etc. You can find more in-depth insights in our Foundation Reports and the project overview.
We do not fund projects that are ineligible for funding under our statutes and funding guidelines. They include, for instance:
- sponsorship,
- individuals (outside advertised scholarships),
- purely institutional funding,
- accommodation costs,
- short-term projects, such as events.
- At the moment, we are not funding any additional projects in the Global South.
- The One Foundation does not cover project costs retrospectively, either.
Type and extent of funding
In total, we have an annual funding volume of approximately EUR 650,000 to award. Every project is different, and so too is the amount of funding granted. We do not stipulate a minimum or maximum amount of funding. However, the funding allocated to the project needs to be plausible and appropriate in relation to the project in question and its duration. To date, projects have received funding of between EUR 2,500 and EUR 150,000. Projects being funded for the first time often receive around EUR 50,000 from the One Foundation for a period of 12 to 24 months.
To get a sense of the projects previously funded and the respective funding amounts, please see the table of funding awarded to date in the appendix to the Foundation Report.
A maximum of 80% of the project budget can be requested from the One Foundation, meaning that the company’s own contribution needs to amount to at least 20%. This can also be covered by third-party funding.
The funds must be used for a specific purpose. Within the project, they can be spent on material and personnel costs. It is also possible to apply for coverage of administrative expenses, up to a reasonable limit (max. 10%).
If major changes to the financial plan become apparent during the course of the project, the One Foundation must be consulted.
Application process and deadlines
Here’s a step-by-step overview of the application process.
- Check:are your organisation and project idea eligible for funding? Please refer to the checklist.
- Submit a project outline:if you have decided to submit an application, please send a two-page project outline and any additional material, such as annual reports, to foerderung@one-foundation.de no fewer than two weeks before the start of the application period (mid-February or mid-August). The project outline should enable us to assess – with as little effort as possible on your part – whether it makes sense for you to submit an application. In the outline, please describe the main features of the project, such as its objectives, impact logic and scope. There is no template for the project outline. We’ll contact you if we have any questions.
- Receive feedback on the project outline:we’ll let you know whether we recommend that you submit an application, and send you the application form, by the beginning of the funding application period in question. The recommendation to submit an application does not constitute an entitlement to funding.
- Submit your project application:project applications can be submitted from 1 to 31 March and 1 to 30 September each year. You need to use the application form provided by us for this; we will send you this once we have given a positive response to your project outline. A sample application can be found here ahead of this point: we’ve listed a few success factors for a good application under ‘Selection criteria and decision-making process’.
- Decision by the One Foundation:all project proposals are reviewed by the One Foundation before a shortlist is presented at the Board meeting, where a decision is made on who will receive the funding. The Board meeting takes place within 10 weeks of the end of the application period. We will then inform you promptly of whether your funding application has been approved or denied. Unfortunately, we cannot fund all the project applications we receive. There is no legal entitlement.
- Funding starts:we conclude a funding agreement with you. This specifies the proportions in which – and when – the funding is to be paid out. It is possible for projects to start two months before the end of the application period. In this situation, the funding may also be paid retroactively in exceptional cases. As a rule, funding payments are made 6 to 8 weeks after the Board meeting.
If you have any questions during the application process and can’t find an answer on this page or in our FAQs, please feel free to attend one of our digital consultation sessions or contact us at foerderung@one-foundation.de.
Selection criteria and decision-making process
Projects are selected on the basis of a funding application. Using the information contained in this application, the One Foundation checks whether the project aligns with the foundation’s impact goals and values and whether the financial plan appears coherent and appropriate.
The application form contains the key evaluation criteria and makes clear which factors will be used to assess applications.
Funding is given to impact-oriented projects that address a specific social problem and aim to achieve positive and lasting change for the target group through their activities.
We like it when funding applications are clear and concise, offer a transparent and realistic presentation of the project and are coherent.
The decision on funding is made by the Board of Directors and the management during a Board meeting. It may be that a project does not receive funding even if it is eligible, for example if the available funds have already been allocated. There is no legal entitlement to funding.
Expectations of funded organisations
The expectations we have of the organisations that receive funding are set out in a contract. The following list is only intended to provide a brief overview:
I. Cooperation
The fundamental values that shape the collaboration between the One Foundation and the projects we support are a sense of partnership, transparency and openness.
We seek trusting communication with a specific contact person, who should always feel able to contact us, too. We believe that everything can be solved via joint dialogue.
II. Evaluation and reporting
In the application itself, we ask for impact objectives and indicators of how these are to be made measurable. It is therefore expected that the relevant data will be collected.
As a rule, we ask for brief project updates once a year and a more detailed report at the end of the project. In addition, we require images and quotes from participants to document the project’s progress and for our PR work. It goes without saying that all privacy rights will be respected and material anonymised, if required.
III. Financial resources
As already described, the funding is earmarked for a specific purpose. We assume that our project partners will use the resources given to them responsibly.
No prior consultation is needed for changes that will not affect the outcome of the project. If it is likely that the project will undergo significant changes, however, please consult us.